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Archives
- WHY DO WE FEEL WRONG? April 30, 2026
- OUR MORAL LANDSCAPE April 29, 2026
- FOR COMPASSION, WE NEED EMPATHY April 29, 2026
- COMPOS MENTIS – NON-COMPOS MENTIS April 29, 2026
- CONQUERING THE UNIVERSE April 28, 2026
- THIS IS WHERE WE ARE AT April 26, 2026
- WE FEAR COMMUNICATION April 25, 2026
- MISUNDERSTAND OUR PATH April 25, 2026
- THE ASPECTS OF SELF April 24, 2026
- CREATOR, OR CREATIVE PRINCIPLE? April 23, 2026
- STAYING ON THE RIGHT PATH April 22, 2026
- OUR FABULOUS TEACHER April 21, 2026
- THE NON-PERSON MOMENTS April 21, 2026
- WHY DO WE PREFER STORIES TO DIRECT EXPERIENCE? April 20, 2026
- ARE WE A LIFESTYLE, OR LIFE ITSELF? April 19, 2026
- THE AGE OF DECLINE – THE AGE OF NONSENSE April 18, 2026
- LOOK AT YOUR OWN MIND, RATHER THAN SOMEONE ELSE’S April 17, 2026
- THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS TO TIBETAN BUDDHISM April 16, 2026
- WHAT IS WISDOM? April 16, 2026
- THE ULTIMATE ACT OF REBELLION April 15, 2026
- AN ALIENS VIEW April 15, 2026
- PRAYER IS HOPE April 14, 2026
- COMPASSION DOESN’T MEAN WE LIKE SOMEONE April 13, 2026
- DEPRESSION SUDDENLY LIFTS April 13, 2026
- THE JOY OF MEETING IDIOTS April 13, 2026
- IT’S AMAZING April 12, 2026
- UNIFIED DIVISION – AND THE CONSEQUENCES April 11, 2026
- WE SELF CENSOR … WHY? April 10, 2026
- THE DIFFICULTY OF KNOWING WHAT IS REAL April 9, 2026
- WHY DO WE DOUBT? April 9, 2026
- IT’S A MASSIVE SHOCK April 8, 2026
- TRY NOT GETTING BACK TO ‘NORMAL’ April 8, 2026
- THE TACTIC HASN’T AGED April 7, 2026
- INTERCONNECTEDNESS – UNISON OR HARMONY? April 7, 2026
- THE CURSE OF THE MESSENGER April 6, 2026
- FIBONACCI: THE LAWS OF SURVIVAL April 5, 2026
- THE FIBONACCI EFFECT – THE GOLDEN RATIO April 5, 2026
- THE POWER OF FIBONACCI April 5, 2026
- THE FIBONACCI EFFECT April 5, 2026
- QUESTIONING TRUTH April 4, 2026
- BEYOND A SHADOW OF DOUBT April 4, 2026
- THE WONDER OF BEING A LATE DEVELOPER April 4, 2026
- WOUND MEANS SUFFERING April 4, 2026
- PREDICTABLE SUFFERING April 4, 2026
- NATURE (BUDDHA-NATURE) VERSUS NURTURE (MARA-NATURE) April 3, 2026
- BEING BUDDHIST IS BEING ORDINARY April 2, 2026
- A LUCKY ESCAPE April 1, 2026
- SUDDENLY NOT FEELING WRONG April 1, 2026
- REALISATION COMES FROM DROPPING THE MEDITATION March 31, 2026
- WE CANNOT NOT COMMUNICATE March 30, 2026
Author Archives: tony
ABLE TO MEDITATE BUT NOT LIBERATE
Able To Meditate But Not Liberate Meditation is not liberation: it is the path to liberation. Meditation is a wonderful method to focus the untamed mind (the flibbertigibbet, the idle chattering), and so tame it. But meditation practice itself can … Continue reading
Q. WHERE IS CONFUSION?
Q. Where is confusion? A. It is in the conflict between essence and ideas. Programme: coded instructions for the automatic performance of a task – pre-written. Karmic formation: conceptual imprints in the mind that create reactions – pre-written. Through continually … Continue reading
TO CONFORM OR TO DIFFER?
To Conform Or To Differ? Once We See, We Cannot Not See The light’s on! Conform: comply, abide by, obey, follow, keep to, hold to, adhere to, stick to, cling to… Differ: deviate from, depart from, run counter to, contradict, … Continue reading
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Tagged Buddhas, HUMAN CONFORMITY., HUMAN LOVE v SPIRITUAL LOVE.
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SMASHING THE PROGRAMMING
Smashing The Programming Even though we try to break out of this mental maze of concepts that we have adopted – and which has been pumped into us since childhood – we are using the very same programme to achieve … Continue reading
LOSING FAITH WITH RELIGION?
Losing Faith With Religion? We are naturally spiritual, but not religious. Spirit is the experience of awareness the moment before expressing thought or sound. It’s natural to all creatures. We are naturally spiritual, but not religious. Religion and philosophy are … Continue reading
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Tagged Buddhas, Losing Faith With Religion?, Religion and Spirituality.
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TWO STEPS TO UNDERSTANDING
Two Steps To Understanding Step one: all appearances are seen in the mind. Step two: the nature of mind is emptiness. Step one helps us to see the cause of suffering: our reacting and clinging to appearances in the mind. … Continue reading
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Tagged Appearances in the mind., Communication spiritually., Inner voice.
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HOW MUCH DO WE LEARN IN A LIFETIME?
How Much Do We Learn In A Lifetime? Not much! Q: In a lifetime, how many discover anything meaningful about their true reality, and the persona – the mask – adopted to obscure that reality? A: Very few. We are … Continue reading
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Tagged Buddha's teachings, Dharma, How much do we learn?, Spiritual personas., What am I?
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WHEN IS A MYSTERY NOT A MYSTERY?
When Is A Mystery Not A Mystery? When the knowingness is present Although our absolute essential nature cannot be described, it may be indicated directly. If one is not looking and seeing, then, of course, this unique nature will remain … Continue reading
THE IMPORTANCE OF LINEAGE
The Importance of Lineage Even though we practise on our own, the support of a lineage can help us with discipline and enthusiasm. There is a power in words/mantras and practices that has been built up through the centuries by … Continue reading
THE INNER VOICE OF SILENCE
The Inner Voice Of Silence Pure awareness . . . . . . . .NB. This phrase came to mind yesterday in a reply. Interestingly, I just looked to see if anyone had used this phrase before, and someone had … Continue reading
ANY QUERIES?
Any Queries? Just like you, I’ve spent years searching for the truth: going on retreats, attending teachings in different traditions, reading books, talking to teachers…they were all helpful, but I felt that something was missing. So I stopped to see … Continue reading
NEGATIVE NEGATIVITY
Negative Negativity It’s something to look out for. We would all like things to be better. This creates reactions, and emotions arise in the mind from a sense of compassion, but it becomes personal, and so we get involved. Through … Continue reading
EMPTINESS
Emptiness To elaborate, examine or meditate upon emptiness does nothing but add concepts… …what can one say? .
REALISING SAMENESS
Realising Sameness Song 20 Flight of the Garuda by Shabkar Tsokdrug Rangdrol “When appearances and emptiness are inseparable, that is the time of having actualised the view. “When dreams and being awake are without any difference, that is the time … Continue reading
TALK ABOUT NEGATIVES OR TALK ABOUT POSITIVES?
Talk About Negatives Or Talk About Positives? There are two sides to spiritual progress: one is our true nature (the positive) and the other is the collection of obstacles that prevents the realisation of our true nature (the negatives). Whether … Continue reading
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Tagged spiritual negatives, spiritual positives, Togal, Trekcho, unity of the two truths
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THAT OLD SELF
That Old Self Even though we may be learned in philosophies and have glimpses of meditative experience of our true nature, our old quirky self is still around. The way we talk, walk, sit…all indicate previous programming created by our … Continue reading
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Tagged habitual, not too loose, not too tight, spiritually weird, that old self
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SPECULATING ABOUT WHAT TO CALL IT?
Speculating About What To Call It? Is it God-consciousness, Christ-consciousness, Buddha-consciousness, Krishna-consciousness…? Is it consciousness or is it wakefulness? Accepting and rejecting both increase thought involvement. Depending on context, the words ‘consciousness’ and ‘awareness’ can be interchangeable: there are various … Continue reading
MEDITATIONAL EXPERIENCES ARE TOYS
Meditational Experiences Are Toys One of my teachers said, “Meditational experiences are toys.” We can become caught up in subtle experiences, and so lose the pure view. It shows good practice, but not the real thing!
THINKING CLEARLY
Thinking Clearly We are allowed to think! Thinking clearly is seeing clearly. Obsessing about the thought is distracting and confusing, and gives rise to negative emotions. We fixate, and so don’t see clearly, and this brings us down. It also … Continue reading
EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining There are simple sayings in every language that reveal truth. Some may sound simplistic but have hidden depths. This clearly illustrates the different yanas or levels of understanding – same words, exalted meaning. At … Continue reading
ADVERSITY IS OUR BEST FRIEND
Adversity Is Our Best Friend Our enemy is our best friend. Those who annoy us are our best friends. Why? They reveal what we are holding onto. They make it easier to be detached. They help us show compassion. Of … Continue reading
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Tagged Adversity Is Our Best Friend., compassion, Deluded planet.
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GOLD IN THE MUD
Gold In The Mud Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche “Although buddha nature is present in everyone, we fail to recognise it. This ignorance is the main cause for wandering in samsara. Due to the ignorance of not knowing their own nature, sentient … Continue reading
NO QUESTIONS = NO INTEREST
No Questions = No Interest A closed mind has closed answers. A closed heart does not care. Questions open the mind. Interest opens the heart.
TELLING PEOPLE TO BE HAPPY
Telling People To Be Happy Telling people to be happy doesn’t make them happy. Telling people that they are already happy doesn’t make them happy. Explaining to people how happiness arises doesn’t make them happy. Happiness is seen in the … Continue reading
WE LIVE IN A CONUNDRUM
We Live In A Conundrum – a riddle, a joke! We are misinformed by pareidolia! Pareidolia: a psychological phenomenon wherein the mind perceives a familiar pattern of something where none actually exists. Here’s a conundrum…Me! We meditate, but there is … Continue reading
WHEN DOES A CULTURE BECOME A CULT?
When Does A Culture Become A Cult? This is a delicate subject, and there is no intention to divide. When we take on anothers’ culture, we are doing something that is not natural to us. It’s important to be clear … Continue reading
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Tagged Guru Yoga, Tibetan Buddhism, When Does A Culture Become A Cult?
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WHAT IS BUDDHISM?
What Is Buddhism? It is awakening. Buddhism starts with awareness and ends with awareness. We start with awareness of being unhappy and dissatisfied: we are, in fact, suffering. This suffering ends when awareness itself has been realised: this is direct, … Continue reading
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Tagged Awakening., BUDDHISM, Sky dancers., SPIRITUAL AWAKENING, What Is Buddhism?
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A DOUBLE TAKE ON EMPTINESS
A Double Take On Emptiness Emptiness = clearness, lack of adornment In Sanskrit, the word ‘shunyata’ means emptiness. But what is emptiness? We first need an intellectual understanding of emptiness, and then we can recognise the experience. Emptiness is non-grasping … Continue reading
HUMAN ANTICS AND SPIRITUAL ANTICS
Human Antics and Spiritual Antics Antics = amusing behaviour, foolish behaviour, monkey tricks! We are very subtle, sensitive beings, embodied in very sensitive human form, and that’s why we can become so easily distracted by trinkets and displays. Once we … Continue reading
CLARIFYING TEACHINGS
Clarifying Teachings Teachings can be about learning – that’s the slow way. Teachings can be about clarity – that’s the fast way. This blog is about clarifying. In all walks of life, teaching is guiding a student from A to … Continue reading
THE THREE SHOCKS OF CHANGE
The Three Shocks Of Change We want the world to change, in order for it to be a better place for all. Realistically, this is lunacy because of mass, collective karma which is constantly reinforcing a mistaken view of reality. … Continue reading
REMEMBERING WE HAVE FORGOTTEN IS ATTAINMENT
Remembering We Have Forgotten Is Attainment There is a delicate balance between knowing and not knowing distraction and non distraction wakefulness and dreaming. “Not too tight and not too loose” is the unity of the two truths, and awareness remains … Continue reading
FEELING COMPLETE
Feeling Complete There is a natural progression when investigating and realising our spiritual essence. Looking, seeing and letting be creates space for intelligence and wisdom – our relative and ultimate nature – to be recognised. Letting be is easier said … Continue reading
WHEN THE LIGHT’S ON, THE LIGHT’S ON!
When The Light’s On, The Light’s On! Terminology can be, and is, confusing. The realisation of this can be, and is, a shock. Mipham Rinpoche explains shamata and vipashyana perfectly. From A Lamp to Dispel Darkness by Mipham Jampal Dorje: … Continue reading
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Tagged Mipham Jampal Dorje., Shamata Vipashana Trekcho Togal.
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TOSSED AROUND BY KARMA
Tossed Around By Karma Karma: the result of a cause. Things don’t just happen, even though they may seem to. There is pain behind reactions. Sometimes (make that all the time!) both fortunate and unfortunate situations hit us, and it’s … Continue reading
WHAT SHOULD I BELIEVE?
What Should I Believe? Nothing. Belief: an acceptance of an idea without proof. The Buddha’s teachings are totally logical. We can follow them step by step. We do not have to believe in what he said: we just have to … Continue reading
MEDITATION IS A MEANS TO AN END
Meditation Is A Means To An End Devotion is a means to an end Compassion is a means to an end Direct recognition is a means to an end …of confusion. Washing the car is a means to an end. … Continue reading
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Tagged BUDDHISM, Devotion compassion., Meditation Is A Means To An End.
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TIBETAN BUDDHISM
Tibetan Buddhism To practice Tibetan Buddhism is to realise our true nature of pure awareness, to recognise the obstacles that prevent the realisation of that true nature, and to acknowledge that these very same obstacles are the path to realising … Continue reading
DEMON VANQUISHERS
Demon Vanquishers Taming mara/demons Defeating the enemy, wrong doings We, as sentient beings, are governed by three principles: desire, fear and ignorance/indifference. This why we are not enlightened. Anyone who wants to take advantage of us feeds off these same … Continue reading
DEBUNK YOUR SELF
Debunk Your Self Deflate a puffed up image. Debunk: exposing false or hollow ideas or beliefs, reducing an inflated reputation. We all have inflated ideas about ourselves: we have hopes, we have fears and we are choosy. There is something … Continue reading
NO MORE LEARNING…
No More Learning… only recognition There comes a point when we recognise that it is time to just practise. To hope for more and more deeper teachings is like chasing rainbows. A rainbow needs sunlight and rainy cloud, and is … Continue reading
WHAT IS BEING ‘SPIRITUAL’?
What Is ‘Being Spiritual’? It’s what we are; pure experience beyond thought. Pure experience embodied in a temporary, human form. The world around us is convinced that this is not so and it needs us to believe that, because to … Continue reading
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Tagged Spirituality and Religion., What Is 'Being Spiritual'?
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THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING!
There’s Always Something! As there’s always something, that something is our teacher. Although things have no inherent existence, things are constantly being created, and our reactions to those things are constantly being created. There is therefore always something to hope … Continue reading
WHY DO WE ARGUE?
Why Do We Argue? Why do we want to silence or control each other? We know that arguing will never achieve anything. We may feel as if we have won, but it doesn’t leave a good taste. It’s a vicious … Continue reading
PARAPHRASING OR PARROT PHRASING
Paraphrasing or Parroting Phrasing 🙂 Paraphrase: express the meaning of something written or spoken using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity. Parroting: mechanical repetition of words or phrases. It doesn’t matter what spiritual practice we do, if it doesn’t … Continue reading
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Tagged Paraphrasing or Parroting Phrasing ., Shabkar Tsokdrug Rangrol.
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HOW SIGNIFICANT ARE WE?
How Significant Are We? There is knowledge of the entire universe within us all. That’s how significant we are! All matter is made out of particles that react with other particles: each relies on conditions that arise from previous reactions. … Continue reading
WHERE IS HAPPINESS?
Where Is Happiness? It doesn’t matter whether we are sick, old, dying, depressed, meditating, chanting, banging drums, peeing, arguing, chopping wood, fetching water, knowing Samantrabhadra-Madyamika-Tathgatagabha (or not)…pure awareness is always present. Recognising the stability of pure awareness in whatever takes … Continue reading
WHY DO WE FEEL THE WAY WE FEEL?
Why Do We Feel The Way We Feel? Our feelings are a residue of past actions and thoughts stored in the subtle body. Ideas are stored in the mind, and feelings are in the subtle body. The subtle body, in … Continue reading
BUDDHA IN THE MUD is a blog - a living book based on the Dzogchen teachings. Our teacher is life, and life is karma. We are all Buddhas in the mud of concepts. 